Reviewed resources for teaching about climate and energy

The Once and Future Corals

This narrated slide show gives a brief overview of coral biology and how coral reefs are in danger from pollution, ocean temperature change, ocean acidification, and climate change. In addition, scientists discuss how taking cores from corals yields information on past changes in ocean temperature.

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Notes From Our Reviewers

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Teaching Tips

Teaching Tips

Because this is a brief overview of coral reefs in danger, eductor may want to provide the linked Oceanus articles to their students for more background information.

About the Science

An overview of how human activity is impacting the integrity of coral reefs, and how coral can be used to investigate past climate changes. Paleoclimatology, ocean acidification, ecology, and pollution are all linked topics.

Comments from expert scientist: This video is narrated by Konrad Hughen, a respected geochemist who works with coral skeletal records. The video has good visuals and the narration tells a nice story about what corals are, and how coral reefs grow and record information on ocean history in their skeletons.

About the Pedagogy

There are links to Oceanus articles that fill in more science background on this slideshow. Educator should review the links prior to lesson to prepare for student questions and desire to explore.